Black Box Car Finance
How does black box car finance work?
Black box car finance is usually offered with a hire purchase or HP loan. You might need to put down a deposit upfront and then make fixed payments for a term of between one and six years. When the loan term ends, you might need to pay a small ‘Option to Purchase’ fee, but then you’ll become the car’s legal owner.
Throughout the loan term, you’ll receive a monthly reminder every time your payment is due. Different lenders can have other systems, but your reminder usually appears a few days before the payment date.
If your black box has a light, it might turn red and start flashing. You’ll probably also receive a reminder text.
As soon as you make your payment, the black box will either reset itself, or you’ll need to enter an activation code to turn the light off.
The box is removed once you’ve reached the end of your loan term and made all your payments.
What happens if I miss a repayment?
If you receive a reminder but still miss your payment date, you usually won’t see any effects straightaway. Black box car finance lenders understand that life happens, and sometimes late payments are out of our control. Most will offer a grace period that can last up to 30 days.
Once this grace period ends, if you haven’t made the payment, the GPRS system connected to the black box can deactivate your car remotely.
Don’t worry, this won’t happen when you’re in the fast lane on the motorway; deactivation will only happen while the car is idle. Once deactivated, you won’t be able to drive the car, and the lender might start proceedings to repossess.
Is black box car finance the right choice for me?
If you’re someone who has forgotten about loan repayments in the past or you have a poor credit score, black box car finance might be a good option to explore.
While the idea of a black box might be off-putting at first, knowing that you’ll be reminded each time a payment is due could move that burden off your mind. It also reassures lenders that they’ll receive payment on time.
However, it comes with the risk of being unable to use your car if you start missing repayments. If you’re concerned about this possibility, guarantor or joint car finance might be a better fit.
Can I get black box car finance with bad credit?
Yes, black box car finance might help you secure a loan if you’ve missed payments in the past and now have a bad credit score.
This type of car finance reassures lenders that they’ll receive your repayments and shows that you’re equally committed to making payments on time.
If you successfully manage your car loan repayments, this can help demonstrate that you can be a responsible borrower and could even improve your credit score over time.
Can I get black box car finance with no credit check?
No, you won’t get black box car finance without checks about you. These checks are an essential part of the car finance process and offer protection by ensuring you’re only offered loans you can afford to repay.
At Autedia, we’ll carry out a soft credit check when you apply for a quote to assess your eligibility, and it won’t affect your credit score. A hard credit check, which is marked on your credit report, will only happen if you choose to proceed with a loan option.
All car finance loans are subject to eligibility criteria to ensure they’re right for you and your circumstances.
What is black box car insurance?
Black box car insurance or telematics also requires a device to be fitted to your car, but instead of finance payments, it monitors your driving.
Black box can be a cheaper car insurance option for young and new drivers. If the black box shows that you drive smoothly, brake safely, and rarely venture out at night, for example, you might qualify for a reduced premium.
If you’re looking for cheap car insurance without a black box, find out how we can help here.
